Microsoft Research is known for coming up with crazy, new ideas. The division has been responsible for a number of technical enhancements – both new and small – including Windows Phone’s top-notch virtual keyboard. According to a leaked presentation, Microsoft Research has been experimenting with two unique virtual keyboard designs, one being a slightly curved layout suited to one-handed typing and the other a grid-like arrangement for typing in Korean.

The curved design, which some have referred to as the “Arc keyboard” – calling to mind the Microsoft Hardware’s Arc mice – almost looks like an old T9 keypad crossed with a curved QWERTY layout. Supposedly, it uses disambiguation to determine which letter you meant to type. Interestingly, Windows Phone’s typing suggestions box seems to be absent from this design.

There’s a possibility that this feature will make its way into one of Microsoft’s future products, possibly as early as Windows Phone 8, but it’s too early to tell. Microsoft still has yet to reveal many of the details surrounding its next mobile OS.

Could this be a revolutionary step forward in one-handed typing, or is it just an experiment that will go nowhere?